The Basics

Score: (18) Evangel 99, Central Methodist 84

Location: Springfield, Mo. (Ashcroft Center)

Records: Evangel (15-3, 10-2), CMU (8-9, 5-6)

Box Score

Story by Mike Bennett, special contributor to www.evangelathletics.com

Manrique Alvarado's near perfect shooting night came at a perfect time for Evangel University on Monday night. The junior guard scored 26 points to lead the Valor to a 99-84 victory over Central Methodist in men's basketball.

Alvarado was 4-of-4 on 3-point shots, 6-for-6 on free throws and missed only one field goal in nine tries. Adding to the symmetry: He scored 13 points in each of the halves. "That's up there with my best games," he said just after the final buzzer. "After the first couple of shots, it felt good, really good." That was really good for the Valor, who needed Alvarado's first-half points – including a last-second trey – to cut Central Methodist's lead to 42-41 at halftime.

The tough Eagles moved ahead 47-43 in the first minute of the second half and also led 64-63 with 10:45 to go. "We knew they were very good. This was a huge win," Alvarado said. "The game we lost Saturday (76-73 at first-place William Penn) gave us a chip on our shoulder. We needed to balance that out." Coach Bert Capel said he was happy to see Alvarado's shooting, to have six players in double-figure scoring and for the Valor to pull away from a tight game at the end. "He's played OK, but hadn't shot well for four or five games. He found his rhythm," Capel said about Alvarado. "We need all of our guys to show up."

Many did on Monday night. Edriel Martinborough scored 17 points, Stephen Salvi 16, Jace Coffie 13, Josh Pritchett 11 and Garrett Davault 11. Salvi had a game-high nine rebounds and Coffie a team-high seven assists. Alvarado made four assists and Pritchett five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Autry Acord had two steals. Jordan James led Central Methodist with 21 points.

The victory boosted Evangel to 15-3 overall and 10-2 in the Heart Conference. Central Methodist dropped to 8-9 and 5-6. The Valor remained in second place in the Heart, one game ahead of Mid-America Nazarene.

Martinborough made a trey and Coffie a pair of free throws to put Evangel ahead 48-47 for the first time in the second half. Evangel stayed ahead until 11:49 when the Eagles forged a tie at 60. But, a drive and free throw by Davault moved Evangel up again. Central led again – 64-63 – at 10:45, but Evangel quickly responded with a trey by Broc Smith.

It was 71-64 with 9:01 left after a rousing dunk and free throw by Davault. "We got that energy back," Capel said. "We had a little carryover from the Penn game. I felt Garrett's dunk really woke us up. We kind of snapped out of our little funk." Still, the Eagles fought back to make it 75-71 with 6:51 left, before EU closed out on a 24-13 run. The Valor return to action on Thursday with a game at 7:30 p.m. Park University. Park is 5-10 overall and 3-7 in conference play.